By Dave Gatton
November 17, 2003

Augusta (GA) Mayor Bob Young represented the United States Conference of Mayors at the 2003 International Forum on Urban Development, October 29-31, in Beijing, China. The forum was sponsored by the China Association of Mayors and attended by over 150 Chinese mayors. Madame Tao Siliang, Vice President of the association, presided over the three day event.

Young addressed the forum on the topic of developing transportation and logistics systems in a sustainable economy.

"The movement of goods and services through transportation and communications infrastructures is essential to the economic vitality and growth of cities, nations and even the global economy," Young told the group.

He said that despite the fact that U.S. transportation investment had increased over the last 15 years, many cities and metro areas in the U.S. remain clogged with traffic congestion. He said that the improvement of the interstate and national highway systems had helped to expedite the movement of goods to major ports and airports, but that more work remained to maintain U.S. competitiveness.

In terms of future trends, the mayor cited the movement toward transit-oriented development, coordinating the placement of office buildings, condominiums, and other mixed use developments next to transportation centers.

He also described the rapid growth over the last decade of the U.S.air cargo system and communications networks that enable business to manage their inventories much more productively, thereby providing increased profits and more flexibility in responding to consumer desires.

Young told the audience that in his own city of Augusta, leaders have advanced the transportation/logistics infrastructure by giving citizens options in traveling to, from, and through his city.

"In the past 15 years, we have spent $315 million from sales tax revenue on road and drainage construction within the city of Augusta,," he said. The State of Georgia has budgeted $240 million for work that is currently in the design phase."

He described Augusta public transportation system that moves 1.1 million people a year and efforts to complete over 40 miles of bicycle trails in the city. Next year Augusta will start construction of a new $30 million airport terminal, after spending $5.5 million this year on airport infrastructure improvement.

In 2000 the U.S. Conference of Mayors signed a memorandum of cooperation with the China Association of Mayors, formalizing their relationship. Since then, they have held two formal summits, one in Washington (DC), the other in Beijing.